Posted on 01/04/2018 8:47:38 AM PST by Mariner
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Jeff Sessions is rescinding the Obama-era policy that had paved the way for legalized marijuana to flourish in states across the country, two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. Sessions will instead let federal prosecutors where pot is legal decide how aggressively to enforce federal marijuana law, the people said.
The people familiar with the plan spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it before an announcement expected Thursday.
The move by President Donald Trump's attorney general likely will add to confusion about whether it's OK to grow, buy or use marijuana in states where pot is legal, since long-standing federal law prohibits it. It comes days after pot shops opened in California, launching what is expected to become the world's largest market for legal recreational marijuana and as polls show a solid majority of Americans believe the drug should be legal.
While Sessions has been carrying out a Justice Department agenda that follows Trump's top priorities on such issues as immigration and opioids, the changes to pot policy reflect his own concerns. Trump's personal views on marijuana remain largely unknown.
Sessions, who has assailed marijuana as comparable to heroin and has blamed it for spikes in violence, had been expected to ramp up enforcement. Pot advocates argue that legalizing the drug eliminates the need for a black market and would likely reduce violence, since criminals would no longer control the marijuana trade.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Something really, really important. You know, not like the trivial treason, sedition and wholesale abandonment of immigration law.
+1
Thanks Jeffy... I am glad you’re getting to the important stuff first.
Never-mind that pesky national security stuff your friends from Congress might have done...
“It looks like sleepy Jeff finally found a law he wants to enforce.
Something really, really important. You know, not like the trivial treason, sedition and wholesale abandonment of immigration law. “
Meanwhile, Hillary “Ethel Rosenberg” Clinton is living large.
Good thing we don’t have to contend with things like a de-facto national COUP D’ETAT.
I’m no fan of pot, but this is a battle that has already been lost (or won depending what side you fall on). Nothing is going to put the legalized pot genie back in the box anymore than prohibition was going to stop alcohol, and if the DOJ tries heavy handed tactics its libel to results in riots in the streets in these pro-pot states. In other words, there are more important battles to be fighting..
A lot of business money invested in State legal marijuana farms, distribution, vendors. Expect this to be tied up in lawsuits for quite some time.
I smell lawsuit. One that will drag through the courts for years, ending in a SCOTUS decision revamping the U.S. drug laws...
Not going to help Republicans with independent voters, at all.
What a moron, if this isn’t a STATE’S RIGHTS issue, then there is NO such thing.
rip van sessions finally does something, ok, but I wouldn’t downplay the significance of this. The news is in from Colorado and liberalizing marijuana is a bad thing.
To me, the real problem is how little data is really captured about the subtle ways pot drags you down...loss of motivation, mild depression, impaired thinking...instead they like to think about how it takes the edge off the harsh experiences in life. Stupid and yeah...a bunch of dopes.
You are of course wrong about sleepy sessions.
The tax bill was passed. It is now a new year.
Sessions compares pot to heroin...
My last ex-wife compared Copenhagen to heroin. May be those two should hook up.
At least this hits the Democrat states.
This could be the states rights issue that sparks a fire.
It is the right thing to do but there are so many other things he could do instead or in addition to this.
I think this is a mistake. Did we not learn anything from Prohibition. People are gonna do what they are gonna do and no law can stop them. The argument against this is where do you draw the line? Pot, heroin, meth, what? Anyone can grow pot and it’s relatively natural. I don’t care for it but know plenty of people who do. They don’t use anything harder though. Not one single one of those I’m thinking of who are daily pot smokers. I say the line should be drawn on the other side of pot. Your mileage may vary.
Anyone who imbibes in any amount of alcohol should be able to see why those who want to take a hit or two of pot should be the adult’s choice; not the state or the feds.
Just like alcohol; pot can be a huge tax windfall for the state and feds if they legalized it and taxed it. Heck; package it like cigarettes to really drive the nannies crazy. Controlling human behavior of this kind is a losing proposition. Use law enforcement resources for something more important.
What did your former spouse have against the capital of Denmark?
;-)
LOL
Makes sense. Marijuana is a Schedule 1 narcotic. Either take it off the list (there is a process for that) or enforce it. The way things are now is nuts.
“The news is in from Colorado and liberalizing marijuana is a bad thing.”
The people of Colorado have the power to reverse it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.